News you can use
News you can use
By Emily Mayer
Editor's note: Due to technical issues, Havre Weekly Chronicle did not receive this Celebrating History in time to print it in the Dec. 26, 2024, edition. Following is the full column.
It's Christmas week and a century ago, Havre was quite busy. Again this week, there were so many things going on, I had to pick and choose what would be included in this column. If I included them all, it would take up the entire page! So, here are the ones that made the cut, and I hope you enjoy them.
Baking has long been a Christmas tradition in the United States and many other countries. A personal favorite is named melomakarona, a Greek honey cookie. My friend and fellow co-worker, Areti Dritshoulas, makes them and I look forward to them every year. I bet people one hundred years ago enjoyed their favorites, too, and took the time to make them to share with complete strangers during the Christmas holiday, as announced in the December 23, 1924 issue of The Havre Daily Promoter.
"READY FOR BAKED CHRISTMAS GOODS AT ORPHEUM
"The Christmas matinees, which are being conducted again this year by Manager Sidney Hirshberg of the Orpheum theatre, are proving most successful and an unusually large quantity of Christmas edibles have been received for the Christmas baskets to be distributed Christmas eve.
"Manager Hirshberg wishes to emphasize that cooked things and baked goods may be brought today and tomorrow, as Christmas is only three days away.
"At the matinee performance today and tomorrow admission for any school child will consist of something edible. It makes no difference what it is, just as long as it is good to eat, it will be the price of admission."
Several special Christmas programs were being offered throughout the Havre community, and here are four of those events. In the December 21, 1924 edition, we find this article.
"Presbyterian Christmas Program This Evening
"The Presbyterian Sunday school will present a humorous cantata in which all the members of the school will participate at the church at 7:30 o'clock this evening.
"The church rooms have been decorated with huge Christmas trees on which is suspended gifts for the Sunday school members. Candy and nuts will also be given the children.
"Parents of the boys and girls and the public are invited."
These three entries were chosen from the December 23, 1924 newspaper.
"DANCING PARTY AT MASONIC TEMPLE
"A dancing party in honor of students home for the Christmas holiday will be given Tuesday evening, December 30, at the Masonic Temple. Masonic families, members of the Eastern Star and the Masons and their friends are invited.
"CAMPFIRE GIRLS
"All Campfire girls are requested to meet this afternoon at 2 o'clock with their Guardians and assistants at the High school, and they will sing Christmas Carol Christmas evening on the streets if the weather permits.
"Midnight Services at St. Marks This Evening
"Christmas carols will be sung tonight at a midnight service at St. Marks. The first carol will be sung at exactly twelve o'clock and after a processional hymn, prayer for Christmas morning will be said. A ten minute address on a Christmas theme will be given.
"At 11 o'clock Christmas morning, the Knights Templar and the members of the De Molay chapter will participate with St. Mark's parish in a special service in keeping with the day. Rev. J. C. Evans will deliver the sermon, and will be assisted in the services by the Rev. Conrad Wellen."
How sad a century later, the lights at St. Mark's Episcopal Church are dark and the sounds of the sermon and the music of the carols are no longer heard.
Of course, theatres and churches weren't the only places gatherings were being held. People were entertaining with gusto in their homes, and here are some of them. In the December 23, 1924 issue, we find this entry in the In Society column.
"DINNER, BRIDGE AND CHRISTMAS TREE
"Members of the Thursday evening bridge club entertained their husbands at dinner followed by a Christmas tree Friday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arne Kapernick.
"Dinner was served at 7 o'clock. Cards were played until 11 and then a Christmas tree was lighted and gifts were distributed.
"Those present were the Messrs. and Mesdames John Carlis, Arne Kapernick, Max Kuhr, Curtis Nelson, Jas. Emslie, R. G. Linebarger, E. C. Stevens and M. E. Rhoades."
The December 27, 1924 Daily Promoter carried this entry in the In Society column.
"COLES ENTERTAIN AT CHRISTMAS DINNER
"Rev. and Mrs. C. G. Cole entertained at Christmas dinner Thursday afternoon. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Drinkwater and family, Miss Dickenson, of Great Falls, and Miss Elsie Dutcher and Miss Miller."
Last week, one of the entries for this column addressed how cold it was. The weather wasn't much better a week later. On Saturday, December 20, 1924, the temperature finally made it above zero. Three whole degrees. The low temperature was twelve below. The forecast wasn't going to get any better, but Havreites are resilient. For proof, here is an article printed for posterity in the December 25, 1924 issue.
"SANTA CLAUS COMES TO GLADDEN HEARTS AND PROVE HE IS REAL
"Havre in Firm Grip of Yuletide Spirit Observes Holiday in Old Time Christmas Spirit
"Garbed in his red garments, his sleigh bells jingling and on his back a pack, Santa Claus traveled the streets of Havre and went into the country lanes last evening, his sleigh so well filled none should go unremembered today.
"Havre is in the grip of the Christmas spirit as probably it never has been before. Cold and wind and snow could not dampen the spirit of brotherly love and kindly feeling and the great lesson is being learned-"it is more blessed to give than to receive."
"The city is observing this day with stores closed, public buildings silent and the time generally given over to Christmas.
"Get Gifts Today
"The post office was all cleared up on its work last evening and every package with a street address had been delivered and all mail had been forwarded so that the only new mail in the office for city distribution today will be today's arrival. In order that this may be received by Postmaster George W. Patterson announced last evening the office would stay open from 8 until 11 this morning. People may call for their mail during those hours.
"Store Have Late Rush
"Christmas shopping through the pre Christmas period was greatly handicapped by the storm, but there was a rush last evening to make late purchase and the stores, open in the evening, were packed until closing time.
"It was generally agreed among the merchants that this year the gifts purchased have been of a more practical nature than in former years and that there have been an unusually large number of gifts of clothing, wearing apparel, etc.
"Church Services
"Mass at the Catholic church at midnight and services at St. Marks Episcopal churches marked the religious features of the night, with special Christmas programs in the Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran churches today.
"The Christian Church Sunday School held its Christmas program which was greatly enjoyed by a large audience. The Presbyterians and Methodists held their services Sunday evening. St. Paul's Lutheran Sunday school held its program last evening and the First Lutheran Sunday school program will be held tonight.
"Christmas Baskets
"The annual distribution of Christmas baskets, which was in charge of a committee on which were representatives of the Rotary club, Kiwanis club, Woman's club and Elks, assisted by the Red Cross and Salvation army took place in the evening.
"Almost 150 little childish hearts were made glad and more than two score of homes were visited by the Santa Clauses during the early hours of the evening distributing Christmas boxes. These boxed contained presents for the children, large quantities of edibles, candies, and Christmas dinner material, vegetables, meats and potatoes, and if there is a single soul in Havre this year who goes through the day passed up by Santa Claus it will not be the fault of that committee.
"Too much cannot be said of the work done by those who planned and helped in this part of the Christmas program in Havre. Hundreds of articles in the way of gifts for people from little children to grown ups were contributed by citizens and were assembled in Havre hotel and there arranged in boxes suitable for those to be made recipients. The money for this was raised by the fire department boys' sale of a doll house, and the charity ball and much of the material was donated.
"The free Christmas matinees at the Orpheum theater, admission to which was something to eat suitable for a Christmas basket proved a very valuable assistant securing large quantities of stores. Old toys were repaired by the fire department boys. Women of the city helped in dressing the dolls and arranging the boxes and a large number of men assisted in packing and in the distribution.
"Then last evening the distribution took place. Some odds and ends will be cleared up this morning."
And, finally, R. G. Linebarger, editor of The Havre Daily Promoter, sent his message to the community in the Christmas day publication.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS
"The Havre Daily Promoter and its employees extend to you all good wishes for a Merry Christmas.
"In order that the employees may observe the day with their families it has been decided not to issue the Evening News this afternoon and to omit the publication of the Promoter Friday morning.
"Therefore when the newsboy doesn't come around tomorrow morning, just remember it is Christmas time."
A heartfelt Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends! May your day be spent in the joy and peace of this blessed and special season.
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